Yahoo!7 | Restaurant Reviews & Photography

I was the resident Melbourne restaurant critic and photographer for Yahoo!7’s flagship lifestyle deals site Spreets, which features the best things to do, see, eat and buy in major cities across Australia. Spreets’ signature editorial tone is quirky, droll and just a little bit tongue in cheek and I regularly contributed restaurant reviews and photographs of everything from Italian trattorias to Nepalese brasseries to the Melbourne website.

Universal Restaurant

Italian cinematic masterpiece La Dolce Vita may tell the tale of a jaded journalist’s search for happiness over the course of an eventful week in Rome but he probably needn’t have bothered. Five minutes at Carlton’s Universal Restaurant, with its joyous staff, fantastic location and totally justified reputation for serving some of Melbourne’s finest Italian fare since 1969 and this writer definitely felt like she was living the sweet life.

Shortly after arriving, the sweet life segued into the scrumptious life as our Italian feast materialized in all its gourmet glory. From a starter of mozzarella and garlic stuffed pizza topped with an abundance of fresh rocket to what can only be described as a gargantuan summer gourmet meat platter, Universal’s food was authentic, indulgent and definitely did The Boot proud. Not to mention sides of beautifully beer battered chips, homemade sauces and a fresh Italian salad with olives, grilled capsicum, and more bite than Berlusconi’s Mrs.

But back to that meat platter which was so ridiculously good that it deserves a second mention. Piled high with an assortment of expertly cooked cuts, Universal’s summer gourmet meat platter was definitely something to write home about. Featuring gorgeous grilled beefsteaks, tasty lamb chops, slow roasted tender marinated pork ribs, beautiful Buffalo wings, homemade pork sausages and classic chicken shashlik, if the test of a great chef is being able to cook meat to perfection then Universal passed with flying colours.

One almost insurmountable summer meat platter, several satisfying sides and a glass each of Shiraz Cabernet later and my beau and I were ready to slip into a sweetly induced food coma. Forget Roman holidays. With its deliciously authentic Italian fare, enviably central location and an incredible ability to make even the most jaded of journalists feel like they’re living La Dolce Vita, Universal Restaurant is definitely the most delicious route to the sweet life.

139/141 Lygon Street, Carlton,
Melbourne, VIC 3053

Albert 315

As an impressionable teen I thought Romeo and Juliet were the last word in star-crossed love. But after ten long years and a trip to Albert 315 on Albert Park’s aptly named Montague Street, I’m pretty sure fighting over the last spicy chicken wing is just as likely to thwart a love affair as mortally warring parents.

At least that’s my abiding memory from Albert 315 – warring over the incredible Smokey BBQ Chicken Wings with my boyfriend because they were so damn good. Well, that and the incredible menu, beautiful setting within a two storey Victorian townhouse in pretty South Melbourne and staff so friendly that I wanted to take them home with me.

But to the food: from two shared entrees of a Tapas Tasting Plate – lavished with Lemon Pepper Calamari with Garlic Aioli, Semi-Dried Tomato Mozarella Risotto Balls and Chicken Wings – and a serving of Ciabatta and dips with olives and feta, the moment our starters arrived we knew we were in for a treat.

Having crossed swords over our entrees and enjoyed a glass of Pinot, my boyfriend opted for a mains of Feta and Olive Filled Chicken Breast, while I went for Albert 315’s much celebrated Braised Lamb Shank Ravioli. And boy did it live up to my expectations. With its robust flavours and excellent accoutrements  – nut brown butter and parmesan to name but two – this was one of the most delicious dishes of my recent restaurant memory.

If you’re a fan of intimately lovely South Melbourne restaurants which excel at modern Australian cuisine which is packed to the rafters with great big flavours then Albert 315 is a complete no-brainer. Just don’t opt to share Albert 315’s delicious dishes with someone who hasn’t seen your true colours. That way lies a few cross words about chicken.

315 Montague Street, 
Albert Park, Melbourne,
VIC 3206